Austria’s Kurz Turns to Technocrat Cabinet as Populists Ousted
- Coalition ends in acrimony after hardline minister is sacked
- Chancellor risks vote of no-confidence in parliament
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Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz will appoint technocrats and senior civil servants to replace ministers from the nationalist Freedom Party as his coalition crumbled in acrimony over a hardline government member.
Kurz asked President Alexander Van der Bellen to dismiss Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, popular among the Freedom Party’s rank and file. The chancellor knew this would lead remaining ministers from Kickl’s party to resign, which they did. Kurz said he’d agreed with Van der Bellen to appoint independent caretakers to their posts.